The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles22 - 25 August 2013

Diageo is proud to be the host and sponsor of the 2013 Johnnie Walker
Championship at Gleneagles. Held over The PGA Centenary Course, venue for
the 2014 Ryder Cup, this is one of the leading events on The PGA European
Tour International Schedule of Events and will welcome some of the best
golfers in the world to one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Fleetwood Number One at Gleneagles 25 August 2013

England's Tommy Fleetwood won his maiden European Tour title
on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off with Scotland's Stephen
Gallacher and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez in the Johnnie Walker Championship
at Gleneagles.

Tommy Fleetwood

Gallacher looked out of contention when he ran up a triple-bogey seven
on the 11th in a roller-coaster final round, but bounced back with birdies
at the 14th and 16th and then holed from 15 feet for an eagle on the last
to complete a 67.

Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez claimed a one shot lead at the
halfway stage of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and
will dedicate a fifth European Tour title to his late parents if he
can secure victory on Sunday.

Ricardo Gonzalez

On the Centenary Course which will host next year's Ryder Cup at The Gleneagles
Hotel, Gonzalez birdied his last five holes to card a second consecutive
65 for a 14 under par total of 130.

Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez took
advantage of perfect scoring conditions to share the lead after the
opening round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Ricardo Gonzalez

Both players carded seven under par rounds of 65 over the Centenary Course
which will stage next year’s Ryder Cup to lead by one from in-form
Australian Brett Rumford, Spin’s Ignacio Garrido, Thailand’s
Thongchai Jaidee and English trio Oliver Fisher, Ross Fisher and Mark Foster.

Francesco Molinari has plenty of fond memories of The Gleneagles
Hotel, but he hopes to create the best of them this weekend at the
Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Francesco Molinari at Gleneagles

The Italian recalled a family holiday to Scotland as a teenager that saw
him play two rounds at Gleneagles with brother Edoardo, and it was the
scene of his first top ten finish on The European Tour back in 2005.

He has gone on to amass four top tens in seven appearances at the Perthshire
venue, including a tie for third in 2010 when Edoardo won to earn a wildcard
selection for that year’s Ryder Cup alongside his sibling.

“I always enjoy coming back here,” said Francesco Molinari,
fresh from a top-ten finish at The Open championship.

It might be another 13 months until The Ryder Cup heads to
Scotland, but the spotlight will be shining on next year’s host
venue this week when one of Europe’s Medinah Maestros - and a
home-grown hero - defends the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Paul Lawrie

Scot Paul Lawrie claimed his eighth European Tour title at last year’s
tournament, carding four rounds in the 60s to finish four shots clear of
Australian Brett Rumford.

Lawrie went on the play a central role in Europe’s memorable Ryder
Cup victory in Chicago just five weeks later, and he will be hoping for
another inspiring performance at the host venue for the 2014 contest.

This week marks the 15th edition of the Johnnie Walker Championship at
Gleneagles and the Scottish galleries will be hoping for another home winner,
with Lawrie and Marc Warren (2007) the only Scots to have triumphed so
far.

Warren will be looking to contend once again after recording his best
finish in a Major Championship two weeks ago, a share of 12th place in
the US PGA Championship.

Scott Jamieson and Stephen Gallacher, winners already on The 2013 Race
to Dubai in South Africa and Dubai respectively, are also part of the strong
home challenge, Gallacher having finished tied sixth last year along with
compatriot Richie Ramsay, who is also part of the field.

With preparations for The Ryder Cup set to be in full swing this time
next year, The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will not feature
on The 2014 European Tour International Schedule, returning to The Race
to Dubai for 2015.

So, for some of Europe’s Ryder Cup hopefuls, this week presents
an ideal opportunity to not only capture the prestigious title, but also
test themselves over the Jack Nicklaus-designed Centenary course which
will provide the backdrop for next year’s matches.

One such player is Francesco Molinari, who alongside Lawrie was part
of José María Olazábal’s victorious European
Team at Medinah.

The Italian has a strong record at Gleneagles, finishing in the top ten
four times in seven appearances, including tied sixth last year and third
in 2010, when his brother Edoardo won the title before earning an Captain’s
pick to join Francesco in The Ryder Cup Team at The Celtic Manor Resort.

Molinari was a top ten finisher in his last appearance on Scottish soil
in The Open Championship last month.

Denmark’s Thomas Björn, twice a runner up in 2013, returns
to the course where he prevailed in a five-man play-off to win the title
in 2011, one of three victories he recorded that year.

THE McGINLEY FOUNDATION COMPLETES OFFICIAL CHARITY LINE
UP FOR THE 2014 RYDER CUP 20 August 2013

The McGinley Foundation, a registered charity launched today
by European Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley, has been announced as
the fourth and final Official Charity of The 2014 Ryder Cup.

Seven past champions, including defending champion Paul Lawrie,
Thomas Bjorn, Marc Warren and Gregory Havret head to Gleneagles for
the Johnnie Walker Championship from the 22nd-25th August as they bid
to become only the second player to win the tournament on two occasions.

Thomas Bjorn

This year’s championship is the last chance for fans to see some
of the world’s best golfers take on the challenges of The PGA Centenary
Course at Gleneagles before it plays host to the 2014 Ryder Cup next September. The
field is taking shape with Ryder Cup heroes Francesco Molinari, Thomas
Bjorn, José María Olazábal and Paul Lawrie lining
up alongside captain elect, Paul McGinley.

The field boasts no less than 247 international victories among it with
Michael Campbell, Paul Lawrie and José María Olazábal standing
out as former Major Champions.